The Arle Valley Benefice : Walking with the Pilgrims

Walking with the Pilgrims

Did you know that three of our churches, St. Mary's, Old Alresford, St. John's, New Alresford and St. Peter's, Ovington are on the journey of the St James Way (Camino Ingles) and the Pilgrims’ Way (Winchester to Canterbury)?

Each church has a stamp readily available (inside the churches during the daytime) where visiting pilgrims can stamp their official passports.

All are welcome to stop for a while, make space, share a moment of quiet reflection and delight in our beautiful ancient buildings. We hope you will feel closer to God.

The St. James Way (Camino Ingles)
The St James Way is a waymarked modern-day Camino in the South of England. It is approximately 68.5 miles/110 kilometres long. The route was devised by members of the Confraternity of Saint James to follow a probable route taken by medieval pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain from Reading Abbey.

For full details of the St. James Way:
www.csj.org.uk/st-james-way
A pdf overview of the route: A Pilgrims Guide to St. James' Way

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The Pilgrims Way
The Pilgrims Way is a 230 km (138 mile) historic pilgrimage route to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, home of the shrine of the martyred archbishop, St Thomas Becket.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

New to Church?

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Here is some information about our benefice and its constituent churches, designed for those who are new to our community.

What is The Arle Valley Benefice? We are four Church of England churches, serving the town of New Alresford and the villages of Old Alresford, Ovington and Bighton.

What is your vision and mission?

Our Vision
Rooted in God
Inspiring Community
Engaging Through Love

Our Mission
We seek to be a welcoming, thriving and growing Christian family, working to discern God’s vision for us whilst witnessing to, and living out, Christ’s message in our community with a relevance that resonates in the 21st Century.

Individual Churches
Where are benefice churches located?
St. John the Baptist is the main Anglican church for New Alresford
St. Mary the Virgin Church is in the village of Old Alresford
St. Peter's is in the village of Ovington
All Saints is a church in the village of Bighton

How do I find out more about each church?

The webpage of each church has sections on:

About us: the identity and values of each church
Services: detailing service times and worship styles

Do any of the churches have mid-week events or study groups?
We offer many groups for fellowship and spiritual growth, including social events, bell ringing, prayer groups, and more. See our Benefice Groups & Activities.

Is there a welcome or newcomers’ program?
Each church has its own system of making newcomers welcome.

Do I need to be a member to attend services regularly?
Not at all. All are welcome to attend any service.

General Enquiries

Who can I contact if I have further questions?
Please email the Parish Administrator, Penny Forbes on 01962 733545 or email the office.

How can I keep updated on events and services across the benefice?
Visit the What's On page on this website or subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.